By Marianne Herondale. Last Updated 27th May 2025. Welcome to our guide on gluten allergy claims. This is a full guide to the process of making a gluten allergy compensation claim. Gluten allergies are not new, but it is only in recent years that doctors have come to understand them better. In this guide, we look at how you could claim for an illness caused by a gluten allergy.
This guide also talks about how gluten/wheat allergies can be identified and what actions are worth following if you have such an allergy. We’ll also discuss potential compensation amounts if you choose to start a personal injury compensation claim for a gluten allergy. We’ll also explain how we can assist with this type of claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you or someone close to you has a gluten allergy, then learning more about this condition is valuable. Gluten can be found in a vast range of food products, including packaged food items. If triggered, a gluten allergy can cause a range of symptoms including significant abdominal pain. In the most severe cases, triggering the allergy can even prove life-threatening.
You are bound to have some questions once you have finished with this guide, and we are here to help. Speak to one of the Legal Expert team at 0800 073 8804 to have them answered. You can also contact us through our contact us form.
Select A Section:
- What Is An Allergy Or Intolerance To Gluten?
- What Are The Symptoms Of Wheat And Gluten Allergies?
- What Should You Do If You Are Gluten Intolerant, Sensitive, Or Allergic?
- What Are The Effects Of Eating Gluten If You Have An Allergy Or Intolerance?
- Anaphylaxis And Potentially Fatal Reactions
- What Damages Can Gluten Food Compensation Claims Include?
- Gluten Allergy Claims Compensation Calculator
- How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation For An Allergic Reaction To Gluten?
- No Win No Fee Gluten Allergy Claims
- How Our Team Can Help You
- Contact Legal Expert Today
- Where To Find More Information
What Is An Allergy Or Intolerance To Gluten?
A basic definition of a gluten allergy is that the person is allergic to the gluten that is found in rye, wheat and barley. These are, of course, very common staple crops, that are the ingredients for common foods such as bread.
Around 1 in 100 people are negatively affected by some level of gluten intolerance. For most people, it is a manageable medical condition as long as they stick to a gluten-free diet.
Living with a gluten allergy or intolerance is a life-changing medical condition, that will prevent you from enjoying many foods, and making a trip out to eat with friends a stressful and potentially dangerous event. If you come to harm due to an allergic reaction, and you had checked with the food vendor that there was no gluten content initially, then they would be liable for compensation.
Here at Legal Expert, we can help with this. We can pursue the restaurant or shop that sold you the food for compensation on your behalf, and hopefully, win you a settlement to compensate for the harm they caused you. One of our team will be able to tell you more if you speak to them using the number at the bottom of this guide.
Can you have a gluten allergy?
Gluten allergies can be quite common and can have serious consequences for those who suffer from them.
Can you claim for gluten intolerance?
Though you may not be able to claim for gluten intolerance itself, you could potentially claim if your gluten intolerance is exacerbated or triggered as a result of negligence. For example, if you were served food containing gluten at a restaurant despite telling the servers not to do so, and had a negative physical reaction as a result, you could potentially claim compensation.
What Are The Symptoms Of Wheat And Gluten Allergies?
The answer to the question, what are the symptoms of wheat intolerance? Is that there are many, and not everyone suffers from the same symptoms, most people suffer from a selection of the potential symptoms, such as:
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Skin issues
- Abdominal cramps or pain
- Leg or arm numbness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Iron-deficiency or anaemia
- Anxiety
- Bloating of the stomach
- Autoimmune disorders
- Joint and muscle pain
- Unexplained and unexpected weight loss
- Fogged thinking
If you have a number of these symptoms, then you could be allergic to gluten. You should visit your GP or consult a dietician.
What Should You Do If You Are Gluten Intolerant, Sensitive, Or Allergic?
If you have medical issues related to gluten, you will primarily have to eat a controlled diet. Carefully avoiding foods that have gluten in them. This can be tough; not all foodstuffs fully disclose gluten content. Eating out can also be problematic.
If you think you are gluten intolerant, you need to visit your GP as soon as possible. Explain your problem to the GP, and list your symptoms. They will let you know whether they believe you need anything more than a controlled diet to manage your medical condition.
What Are The Effects Of Eating Gluten If You Have An Allergy Or Intolerance?
Eating out with coeliac disease, gluten intolerance or a gluten allergy can be a problem. There is no legal requirement for restaurants, cafes, fast food outlets, etc. in the UK for them to display dietary information such as gluten content. You will have to ask the person serving whether particular items of food or dishes have gluten. If you are told that particular food does not contain gluten and it actually does, then you could be able to make a claim if this results in an allergic reaction of some kind. Legal Expert can help with this. Give us a call on the contact phone number at the end of the page to learn how.
Anaphylaxis And Potentially Fatal Reactions
It is important to understand that there are no gluten poisoning remedies for allergic reactions that have evolved into full toxic shock syndrome or anaphylaxis. This is a serious medical condition. A person with anaphylactic shock will fall unconscious and eventually die if untreated. You will need to be taken by ambulance for immediate treatment at the hospital.
If a third party was responsible for a severe or even fatal reaction to gluten, Legal Expert could help you to make a claim. Speak to us on the number down at the end of this guide to learn how.
What Damages Can Gluten Food Compensation Claims Include?
When people make successful gluten allergy claims and receive compensation, it is either going to be a payment for one type of loss or two.
General damages account for the physical harm and psychological distress brought about by the allergic reaction. Some factors that affect how much you receive under this heading include:
- Severity of harm suffered.
- Impact on quality of life.
- Recuperation time and whether a full recovery is possible.
Gluten allergy compensation will definitely feature a general damages payment if the claim is successful.
Special damages are not assured, so you will need to provide proof if you want to seek a payment. This head of loss covers the financial impact of the incident, so proof includes receipts, bank statements or payslips. For example, you might receive a payment for:
- Medical fees.
- Care costs.
- Loss of earnings from missing work because of an allergy attack.
Our solicitors are experts in handling gluten allergy claims and have a strong idea of what a fair payout looks like. Learn more about this by calling our team of advisors.
Gluten Allergy Claims Compensation Calculator
We have not provided some kind of online personal injury claims calculator on this page. You may have tried one of these before, and if you have, you already know how vague they can be. We prefer to give you hard facts. The table below covers a range of potential severities of an illness and the amount of compensation that could be claimed. It is based on the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which contains illustrative compensation brackets for various injuries, except for the figure in the first row, which does not come from this document.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Illness Plus Monetary Losses | Serious | Up to £100,000+ |
| Digestive System: Illness/Damage Resulting from Non-traumatic Injury | Severe Toxicosis | £46,900 to £64,070 |
| Digestive System: Illness/Damage Resulting from Non-traumatic Injury | Serious But Short-Lived Food Poisoning | £11,640 to £23,430 |
| Digestive System: Illness/Damage Resulting from Non-traumatic Injury | Food Poisoning Or Allergies Causing Significant Discomfort | £4,820 to £11,640 |
| Digestive System: Illness/Damage Resulting from Non-traumatic Injury | Disabling Cramps, Pain Or Diarrhoea | £1,110 to £4,820 |
| Psychiatric Damage Generally | Moderate | £7,150 to £23,270 |
Would you like to know how much you could possibly claim in your own case? If so, call the number below and talk to one of the Legal Expert team. Once they know more about your claim, they will be able to give you a much more accurate estimate.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation for An Allergic Reaction To Gluten?
Most gluten allergy claims must begin within 3 years from the date on which the allergic reaction occurred. This is due to the Limitation Act 1980, which establishes the time limit for claiming compensation.
However, the time limit may be frozen in cases where the affected person is unable to make decisions for themselves regarding a claim. This may apply if the person who had the allergic reaction is:
- Below the age of 18
- Mentally incapacitated
Here, the 3-year limitation period may not begin until the date of their 18th birthday or the date on which they recover their mental capacity. This may cause concern for the family members or loved ones of the impacted person since it may take some time before they can claim for themselves.
However, you could be eligible to act as a litigation friend in this situation. This role allows you to represent the claim on behalf of someone who cannot represent themselves. It is important that you maintain communication with the solicitor and make attempts to explain what is happening with the claim to the impacted person (where possible).
If you have any questions about gluten allergic reaction claims, the time limits involved or how to act as a litigation friend, do not hesitate to contact our team of advisors. They offer expert advice to help you learn about the process of claiming, free of charge.
No Win No Fee Gluten Allergy Claims
Here at Legal Expert, we have come up with a financially risk-free way for you to have your claim processed. This is a simple and effective service, operating under a full No Win No Fee agreement. What this means, is that you don’t have to pay us anything when we first take your claim on. You also don’t have to pay us anything for the entire time we are pursuing compensation for you, no matter how long it takes. And of course, you don’t pay us if we are unsuccessful and fail to win you any compensation.
When we are successful though, we will take our pre-agreed percentage of the payment received as our fee, and then we will give the rest to you. If you would like to know more about how this service works, use the number below to talk to one of the Legal Expert team today.
How Our Team Can Help You
If you need to make a gluten allergy reaction compensation claim, you need to ensure that the solicitor you use to process it is skilled and experienced in such claims. Legal Expert fits the bill perfectly; we have plenty of experience in making similar claims.
We will leverage this experience to ensure that you receive the most compensation possible and that you have the best chance of being successful with your claim. We are always available, just a phone call away, to keep you updated on the status of your claim, and explain what we have been doing on your behalf. When you speak to one of our team, they will use plain English, and not legal jargon, to make sure that you understand everything completely. If you are ready to get started with a claim right now, call the number on the number below, and we can get your claim started right away.
Contact Legal Expert Today
Have you suffered a traumatic allergic reaction or anaphylactic episode because a food vendor told you there was no gluten in a product, but there was? Did you know that a personal injury solicitor can likely help you to make a compensation claim for this? Are you ready to get started with a claim today? Give the Legal Expert team a call on 0800 073 8804. They will go over your claim with you, and then inform you of all of your legal options. They can also offer you a simple, effective and completely financially risk-free for you to have your claim processed. So, call today, you really have nothing to lose.
Where To Find More Information
Here are a few links that you might find useful:
- NHS info on coeliac disease
- How to make a compensation claim against a restaurant
- A guide to making food allergy claims
Thank you for reading our guide about gluten allergy claims.
